A Message from the Maplewood Memorial Library Board of Trustees

The Maplewood Library Board of Trustees rescinded their decision to change the hours of the library at a special meeting held on Sunday, January 14.  The Township, working with community leaders and school district officials and the Youth Task Force Committee presented two new programs that we believe will eventually help relieve past problems and provide middle school children with alternative places to go in the afternoons. Morrow Church has expanded its Hang Out Haven program from one to three days a week.  The school district has engaged Family Connections, which currently operates a program at Columbia High School , to structure and implement an after school program in the Middle School.   In addition the Township will provide funding for security officers at both branches of the library.

The Board of Trustees and the library staff recognize that we have a role to play in providing appropriate library programming to this age group.  To that end the Trustees have requested funding for a full-time Young Adult Librarian to work directly with the middle school age group and a space planner to examine facilities at both library buildings and offer recommendations for better utilization of existing space.  One direct result of a space evaluation report will hopefully be the creation of a computer lab at the Main Branch.   In light of the effort that the Township and the school district have made to address the problems and provide solutions through concrete programs and funding, the Board reversed its decision and the library continued its normal hours of operation.